Mrs. Elizabeth “Dede” Sweeney Lodewick, of John’s Creek, GA, passed away suddenly on March 17, 2014. Her strength was one of her most enviable attributes as she valiantly battled Lupus for almost 3 decades and Pulmonary Hypertension since 2002. A graduate of Ridgewood High School in N.J., Marymount College in VA., and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth started her career as an elementary school teacher in the suburbs of Maryland. Elizabeth returned home to North Jersey and began her career in the Insurance Industry, starting at New York Life in Manhattan before moving to The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She retired from Met Life as a Vice President this past January, after 32 years of service. Dede loved the Jersey Shore and had hoped to retire “down the shore” where she could spend time with her husband by her side, watching the kids playing in the sand and listening to the waves crash on the shoreline. Her Irish heritage was always a major source of pride, and it was only fitting that God called her home on St. Patrick’s Day…also the same day Peter had asked her to be his wife 32 years earlier. Elizabeth is preceded in death by her older brother, John “Jack” Sweeney, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Peter B. Lodewick; her parents John and Marion Sweeney of Waldwick, N.J.; her brother Daniel B. Sweeney of Indiana; and 11 adoring nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am on Friday, March 21st at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in John’s Creek, GA. Immediately following the Mass, all friends and family are invited to a reception and slide presentation at the church. For all those family and friends who are unable to make the trip to Georgia at this time, an additional Memorial Mass for Elizabeth will be scheduled in Northern New Jersey later in the year. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Elizabeth’s name to The Pulmonary Hypertension Association, www.phassociation.org or to the Lupus Research Institute, www.lupusresearchinstitute.org
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